Summer!

Sadly, I don't have a pic of Mom in swimsuit, holding a clipboard teaching kids to swim

After a very loooong cold spring, summer heat is finally upon us. I have so many fond memories of this time of year. As a child growing up in a small SW Iowa town, I feel so lucky. I grew up in the 1960s when families were big, and parents didn't pay super close attention to what we were up to - as long as we made it home for meals and bedtime. 

My hometown, Atlantic (population just under 7,000 in 1960 - to a peak of 7,700 in 1980) had everything a kid could want for childhood adventures. My family lived in a house at the top of a hill (I've heard people call it Bullock's Hill) that overlooked a neighborhood called Fairlawns. That area was full of many post-WWII ranch homes, and giant families - ready-made kids to hang out with. 

Next door a big family, the Reinertsons, moved in. We played with the Reinterson girls a lot - especially Katherine (a year younger than Cindy), Laurie (a year older than me), and Annie (a year younger than Betsy). Susi is the oldest in our family - sandwiched in between Reinertson's eldest, Bonnie, and the only boy, Donnie, a year or two younger. 

Backyard fun

I remember treating their backyard (in fact everyone's in the neighborhood) like it was an extension of ours. Reinertsons had a basketball hoop on a pole by the patio in the backyard. And a cool jungle gym-style swingset - monkey bars! Our yard featured a basic triangle-type swingset, and a fabulous playhouse built by my Grandfather Pop's contracting business. We also had a hill leading up to our back porch - fun for sledding and sliding down on giant cardboard pieces. 

There was a narrow forested property to the east of our house that was never developed while we lived there. Of course, we made that our own too - climbing the trees, making forts, and carving out a path to the north side of the block. The woods seemed so large like many things remembered, but adult Leslie saw how narrow it really was. 

Juddy dog with Mom and me

Our doggo, Jud, a full-sized dachshund who we got when I was 1 year old, was part of our posse - he followed us wherever we went. Sadly, he was hit by a car and broke his hip. Mom took him to a vet clinic in Red Oak to have a pin put in the break. He had a big cast on his rear end and we had to carry him outside to go potty. The pin stuck through the skin - a stainless steel rod. Later, he always had that scar, and his legs kicked off to the side when he ran. Jud lived to be 15 years old - I was a freshman in high school. I credit Jud - who slept with me each night - for my love of animals. We called him our brother and he was named after our dad David Judson. Our son Judson is named after Dad and our dog. 😀 

I got a new Western Flyer "spider" bike with a banana seat one year. It was aqua in step-through girl style and had a big white basket on the front. As a not so girlie-girl, I took the plastic flowers off of the basket right away! I did need the basket for my piano lessons at Mrs. Sandhorst's house a few blocks southwest of our place. Everyone had bikes (no helmets) and it wasn't uncommon to see a big mess of bikes parked at any house or play area on summer days. I rode it to school sometimes too. I got in trouble once because I turned into our driveway in front of Sheila Savory in her Karmann Ghia. She called Mom, who read me the riot act on bike safety. 

The best thing was when the "big kids" would include us in their outdoor activities - like Ghost Tag, Kick the Can, and Sardines. Look those games up - basically the are tag and hide n seek. Donnie Reinertson hid in the attic above his family's garage. That place was set up like a fort, but it sure was hot up there. Lucky, we had an app for that. Not really - just one of those twirling sprinklers we'd run through. 

Speaking of water, swimming is part of my family identity. Mom was a Red Cross water safety instructor those summers - along with her friend Betty Lou Pellett. Mom dragged us along for lessons held at the former Boy Scout camp near Griswold. Of course, we took all of the lessons - from beginner to Water Safety Instructor. Good memories of listening to "I'm Henry the 8th" in the car, and going to a root beer place after a whole morning of swimming and running around a park near a cave Jesse James hid in. 

As if we didn't get enough swimming those mornings, we'd go to the pool at the Golf and Country Club in the afternoons. There I'd play with friends I still hold dear. In between dips in the baby and big pool, we'd make forts by putting out towels over a tipped pool chair. Swimming games included swim tag, Nibbles (hiding a twig in the pool for others to find), Jump or Dive off of the diving board, handstands, reading each other's lips underwater, Cannonballs, and more. And that snack room was awesome - with frozen treats like Cap'n Crunch Bars and Drumstix. Plus the regular fare - candy bars, soda, and chips. There was a big table, perfect for card games like Spoons and War. 

Celebrating swim team

Atlantic had a great summer Swim Team, managed by who else - the Pellett family. Practice was at Sunnyside - the full-sized public pool with 3 different diving boards - low, medium, and the scary high board. We'd swim laps under the diving boards - 20 yards across. Parents drove us to SWISA (Southwest Iowa Swim Association) Swim Meets across SW Iowa - places like Council Bluffs (Town and Country Pool), Shenendoah, Clarinda, Creston, Missouri Valley, Manning, Villisca. A couple of times we even went to AAU meets - big time! We went to Fremont, NE, Omaha, and Jefferson, Iowa. I was a good breast stroke specialist and had great support in relays with my pals Sally, Robyn, Merricks and Hutchinsons, Sue, Jennifer, and more. 

I got to know people like the Allens - Mike, Pat, Sherri. Bill Thede was fun to hang with. So many more I can't think of. Swim Team members spent a lot of time together - riding to meets, reading Mad Magazine, and playing cards under the tent in between races. Sue Tyler always brought boxes of Jello - basically flavored sugar for energy. Today I think they use products made for that purpose - we were just ahead of the game! Sally and I spent many hours in her family pool practicing flip turns. 

When I was older, no longer participating on Swim Team, I became a Water Safety Instructor, and Life Guard at both Sunnyside and the Country Club. I even helped with swim meets by being a timer. It's no wonder my skin suffered lots of damage - before the age of sunscreen. We did have Zinc Oxide for burned noses and cheeks. And Baby Oil with iodine - huh? 

The outdoor pool at my gym just opened, so it's time for me to get back in the water. The sounds of kids swimming and playing and the smell of chlorine bring on nostalgia. Another reminder can be hearing songs played over and over on the only station we could get at the pool - was it WOW AM? 

Summer is my favorite season. I tried to believe it was Autumn like it is for many. But it isn't. Bring on the sun (with 50 sunscreen). 

I hope you have a good summer filled with past memories and future ones. 

Head Smack and Deep Thoughts

I admit it. I'm becoming even stranger as I age. I should have planned ahead like the guy I read about recently in the New York Times. He started making a list of things he wasn't going to do when he aged. He was age 50 at the time (now he's 60), and he was observing his own parents. Some of the things were:

• Driving too long - his mother had been in several fender-benders
• Refusing medical assistance - such as a walker after a fall
• Upkeep of the house

There was more, but I'm old, and I can't remember what I read....I can remember my own mother verbalizing similar thoughts about her mother and my dad's folks. She swore she'd happily accept Meals On Wheels when the time came. Of course, she passed away at age 68, so we never got to experience her obstinacy at such milestones. And thank goodness for Kay Harris who helped make sure Dad didn't drive. I'd better start making my list now, so my own kids don't have as much to deal with.  

Anyway, back to me. I'm already weird. I don't move into new things quickly. My behavior is more like a feral cat, where I must observe, and gradually accept that it's okay before moving in. So keep that in mind kids. When you put me into the "home", let me warm up to it. 

I joined a new gym a few weeks ago, Prairie Life Fitness. So far I really like it as it's laid back and not overly crowded. I have walked on the track while scoping out the pool to see just when lanes are available. I dislike sharing lanes. Those of you who have known me since childhood know I've enjoyed swimming all my life. I am the reigning 40-yard 13/14-year-old breaststroke record-holder at Sunnyside Pool. (Last I checked - which was in the 1970's).  

Finally, on Friday I was ready to take the plunge. One other swimmer was in the eight-lane pool when I finally figured out there was no entrance directly from the Women's Locker Room. The door into the pool also flummoxed me. See how hard it is for me? Did I mention that I dislike asking for help? Yes, it's a weakness. A nice lady did notice my perplexed look and explained the door directions. See, that wasn't so bad Leslie. 

The water was just the right temp, and I paddled away for a half hour or so. During one stretch of backstroke, I started to drift (mentally not in the water), thinking about Net Neutrality and its possible effect on rural Iowa. Bam, my head smacked the end of the pool. Lucky they have a plastic edge, much kinder than concrete. Course correction. No deep thoughts whilst swimming. 

Ultimately, I do recognize that I am not the same person that I once was. I can be a weird introvert at times, which makes it difficult to do new things. I feel good about conquering the pool yesterday! As Arnold said in Terminator, "I'll be back!". 

Amy in Equador awaiting Eddie

No not really. Yes, she now has her Ecuador sticker. She's in Vilcabamba. No, she isn't seeking asylum with Edward Snowden. She was having a bit of a problem with the malaria pills she was taking - they were giving her Montezuma's revenge if you know what I mean...but she started taking them with food, and that cleared up.

I took a long walk tonight when I got home from work. It's been too long since I was one with my iPod. I forgot how well I can think when do that. I have a dilemma. My Little Sis Chiya needs to learn to swim. I tried to sign her up for private lessons at the YMCA near where she lives - but they pretty much blew me off. I don't think they have enough teachers.

One of the yards at Diamond Brooke - our townhouse complex

I could teach her myself. It's been a while, since I strapped on the 'ol teaching swimsuit, but I'm sure it's like riding a bike. There's another wrinkle I discovered yesterday when I picked her up yesterday when I thought we were signing up for lessons at the Y. Her two girl cousins - who are close to her age and are living with her family this summer. They don't know how to swim either.

Chiya wasn't real wild about taking swimming lessons. She wants the good part - to be able to go to a pool and not be scared. She wasn't really isn't looking forward to the tough part though - the lessons. I told her we'd go to an Aquatic Center with slides and a Lazy River after she learns to swim. And that she could bring a friend. She asked if she could bring both her cousins. But they don't know how to swim. You see my dilemma.

The Big Sister program prohibits my spending the amount it would require for lessons for all three girls. I could teach all 3 myself though. Logistics is the issue now - when and where could I do the teaching? That's what I pondered during my walk.

If you know of a pool in the Des Moines area that I could use for this purpose - give me a holler or send me a note! It's important. Everyone needs to know how to swim. Pat Bullock would never forgive me if I didn't do something about this. I'll keep working at it - some area pools have family night on Sundays. I check that out to see how busy the pools are then.

I don't read much non-fiction, but the book I'm reading now is quite interesting - in a religious kinda way. It's "Astonished" by Beverly Donofrio. She's got a sense of humor - and she love, love, loves Jesus momma, Mary. The author wrote the book that eventually turned into the movie "Riding in cars with boys" which starred Drew Barrymore and she's written articles for Oprah Magazine and other publications. While living in a town in Mexico, she was raped by a serial rapist wielding a knife. Flailing for a way to recover from such a devastating even in her life - she searched for a monastery to join.

She said she had a hard time praying to and talking to Jesus, for some reason. She warms up to it though - at one point she enters the chapel and says "Jesus, sweetheart, hi, it's so good to see you darling, bunny love, pumpkin pie." I got a big kick out of that! I decided my prayers are way too sedate! The book is thoughtful and touching - with humor thrown in!

On Friday, my friend Deb and I are off on a big adventure! We were supposed to kayak in NE Iowa and SE Minnesota - but severe flooding as put the kibosh on that idea. So we are taking our bikes and will drink, walk, eat and bike. I can't wait! We're staying at a bed and breakfast in Lanesboro, MN.